After two nights of not arresting overnight Occupy Nashville protestors, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger issued a temporary restraining order that forbids the Tennessee Highway Patrol from arresting the protestors. The two sides have until Nov. 21 to come to an agreement about the use of the plaza; if one isn't reached, they'll be back in court to resolve this issue.
Ho. Lee. Buckets.
This makes two judges who have stood up for groups to protest at the plaza. Trauger and Magistrate Tom Nelson both richly deserve the honorific "Hon." before their names for protecting the First Article/Amendment rights of these protestors to assemble peaceably.
The Occupy Nashville movement isn't trying to deny the use of the plaza to anyone. In fact, when my wife and I were down there on Saturday, they were explicit about allowing anyone coming to or going from the TPAC benefit to have free reign to walk unhindered to and from the event. There was also nowhere nearly enough people there to swarm the plaza; we didn't even completely fill the steps during the General Assembly. Think of this protest as occupying a small portion of the plaza rather than overrunning it. There's no need for an "exclusive use" permit because that's not what this group is wanting.
I praise the Hon. Aleta Trauger and Tom Nelson for standing up against unjust restrictions of liberty.
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